"Guillermo," I say, steadying myself against his arm, "you would make a terrible mistake. You don't understand Northern women. You say you love me, and in the next breath you plan to ruin my whole life. I would make you more misery than ever a man endured, and I should hate you bitterly and without end." "It ees no use dthat you zay such dthings." "Guillermo, don't let your love be such a curse to me." "A curse----" "Yes. If any other man had roughly treated me, had abused my confidence, and, finding me defenceless, had forgotten what all brave men owe to women--what would you do to such a man?" The Peruvian puts his hand before his eyes. "I listen not to anydthing you zay." "Yes, you will. You know you would half kill the man who would strike a woman. Some half-mad man has done worse than strike me, Guillermo, and his name is Guillermo de Bach. You are so strong, and you say you love me; will you take my part against this man?" The moon comes out of a cloud, and shows me a white face above my own, drawn tense with emotion. "It ees all settle, Blanca; I go not back." "Oh, God! what shall I do! What kind of man are you? You complain that my countrymen are cold and deliberate; do you know why we love them? They know how to keep faith, but _you_ not twenty-four hours." "Vhat mean you?" His voice is husky and sounds strange. "You promised in the _San Miguel_ this morning, if we trusted you enough to come with you to Guatemala, you would see that the _San Miguel_ did not sail without us. Guillermo!"--with an inspiration I draw the white face down to mine--"forgive me for doubting you; you will keep your word," and I kiss him between the pain-contracted brows. "Oh, Blanca, Blanca, you vill kill me!" Is it a tear that drops on my face? I put my arm in his and draw him up the dark street, whispering some incoherent prayer. "Blanca, I _cannot_! I am not a man dthat I gif you up!" We have turned into the broad avenue and an occasional pedestrian passes by. The Baron seems to see nothing. "You are not a man when you break your word. Come, Guillermo!" We are back at last before the great door; I lift a hand trembling with excitement to raise the iron knocker. The Baron stops me. "I am von fool, Blanca! Like your countrymen, I let you rule. But vhen you forget all else off me, remembair you haf find von Peruvian who loaf you so he let you ruin hees life--you vill nefer see anodther such Peruvian madman. If I haf trouble you, I haf not spare myself, keess me gude-night, Blanca ... and good-bye." A moment later the great knocker had fallen.